Silent alarm clock



Dec. 5, 1933. T, QRSANWELL l,938,135

S ILENT ALARM CLOCK Filed DGO. 5, 1932 Patented Dec. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to switches and more particularly to a time operating switch structure.

An object of this invention is to provide a switch so constructed that it can be mounted on a conventional clock structure in the form of an alarm clock so as to operate a switch for operation of a signal which may be either closely associated with. the clock or time operating means or may be remotely disposed therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a time operated switch structure which is adapted to operate a signal in the form of a light or the like, so as to arouse a person whose sense of hearing is impaired.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described and in part be understood from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a detail rear elevation of a clock or time operatedmeans having a device constructed according to the preferred embodimer; of this invention, the clock and the base portion of the device being partly broken away.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3 3 of Figure l,

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter C designates generally a clock in the form of an alarm clock or other time operated means, which is provided with a stem or shaft connected to the alarm mechanism which is adapted to be set in a well known manner.

In order to provide a means whereby a visible signal in the form of a light or the like may be operated upon setting of the alarm mechanism of the clock C, I have provided a base 11 which is mounted as by screws or bolts 12 to the rear wall 13 of the clock C, and the base 11 may be insulated from the rear wall or back 13 by means of insulation 14 or the like.

A rock lever 15 is mounted on a pivot 16 carried by the base 11 and this rock lever 15 has the free end thereof positioned in the path of a rotating arm 17 which is positioned beneath the winding key for the stem or shaft 10. This rock lever 15 has secured thereto a spring or resilient contact 18 having lugs 19 engaging about the surface of the lever 15, and this spring contact 18 has one end thereof engaged with an upstanding lug 20 mounted on a plate 21 which is also secured to the back 13 in a position adjacent the base l1.

A conductor 22 is connectedl at one end to the movable resilient contact 18 and at the opposite end to a plug or post 23 which extends through the plate 21 and is of tapering construction for engagement with a socket 24 carried by a removable base member 25.

A xed contact 26 is mounted on the base 11 in the path of the movable contact 18 and is connected as by a conductor 27 to a plug or post 28 which is mounted on the plate 21 in spaced relation to the plug 23. This plug 28 is adapted to engage in a socket 29 carried by the base member in spaced relation to the socket 24. The posts 23 and 28 are connected to their respective conductors 2z and 27 by means of a reverted strap 30 which is bent upon itself and which has the free ends thereof secured to the inner ends of the posts 23 and 28, and the ends of the conductors 22 and 27 are extended into the looped ends 31 of the straps 30. These ends of the conductors may be soldered or otherwise firmly secured in the loops 31. The plate 21 is secured to a second or base plate 32 which is in turn secured to the back 13 by means of bolts or screws 33 or the like, and an insulating member 34 in the form of rubber or the like is interposed between the base 32 and the back 13.

A light socket 35 is mounted on the base member 25 and is connected to the sockets 24 and 29 by means of conductors 36 and 37, respec` tively. A pair of conductors 38 are connected to the conductor 36 and have a conventional plug 39 secured to the free end thereof for attachment in a source of current supply so that when the switch structure including the movable contact 13 and the Xed contact 26 are in closed position, the light circuit will be closed and the bulb or lamp positioned in the socket 35 will be lighted.

In the use and operation of this device, the shaft or stem 10 is turned soas to tighten the spring operatively engaged therewith for the alarm of the clock and the turning of this shaft 10 will swing the arm 17 out of contact with the lever 15, thereby permitting the resilient contact 18 to swing the lever for opening of the switch. The alarm may be set for the desired time and when the plug 39 is connected to the power lcircuit when the alarm goes off, the lever or arm 17 will be rotated and carried into engagement with the rock lever 15 which will in turn move the resilient contact 18 into engagement with the xed Contact 26. The circuit will remain closed until the shaft 10 has been manually rotated in a reverse direction. The usual alarm mechanism operatively engaged with the shaft l0 can be operated at the same time that the shaft is rotating so that an audible sound will be produced prior to the operation of the silent signal.

This silent alarm structure is an improvement over my Patent No. 1,895,703, which issued January 3l, 1933.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A time operated switch comprising a nonconducting base, means for securing the base to a time operated means, having a winding key shaft and a key threaded thereon, a rotating arm carried by said time operating means and disposed on a winding key shaft of the time operated means and secured inoperative position by said winding key, a non-conducting rock ressaisir;

lever, means for rockably mounting the lever on the base in the path of said arm, a resilient movable contact secured to said lever, a xed contact mounted on the base in the path of said resilient contact, a pair of terminal members, non-conducting means for securing the plug members to the time operated means.

2. A time operated switch comprising a non conducting base, means for securing the base to a time operated means, a swinging lever mounted for rotation with said time operated means, a non-conducting rock lever, means for mounting the rock lever on the base, a resilient movable contact, means for securing the movable Contact to the rock lever, a xed contact mounted on the base in the path of the movable contact, a second non-conducting base member, a pair of terminals mounted on said second base member, means for securing the second base member to the time operated means in a manner whereby the terminal members will eX- tend outwardly of the time operated means, an extension formed with the resilient contact, a lug carried by the second base, means for securing said extension on said second base, a con ductor connecting the movable contact with one of the terminals, and a second conductor connecting the fixed contact with the other of the terminals, a detachable base member.

THOMAS J. CRANWILL. 

